Beauty tips: Preparing Your Skin for the Chilly Season

It's time to face the facts: the moment the temperatures change - from a moderately chilly autumn to a bitterly cold winter - your skin suffers first. As temperatures fall and the air gets drier your summer routine just doesn’t cut it anymore, and the arrival of winter calls for a major skincare upgrade.
My skin does NOT like winter, and now that I think about - neither does the rest of me! But anyway, I’m not alone, with all too many people I know suffering winter’s cold, dry and unpredictable air and getting skin that is way too parched because of it. This leads to the likes of dry and chapped skin for some, whilst others like me get hit by eczema… and then some.
So, I always have an arsenal of goodies on hand to treat whatever my skin throws at me, all of which will be coming in my bag when I travel back to Queenstown in a few weeks.

Take a gentle approach to cleansing
A winter routine starts with a kinder, gentler cleanser. Put the foaming formulations to one side and opt for a richer cream cleanser or an oil formula if you’re that way inclined. This can definitely help address the dryness that comes with the cooler air, and when used correctly can make a real difference to your skin’s health and wellbeing.
For many, using oils on the face may seem counterintuitive, especially those who associate it with breakouts and the like. Well the situation is quite the opposite, and I love cleansing oil offerings. I fell in love with Emma Lewisham’s Illuminating Oil Cleanser from the get-go – the experience of using it is super luxe, and the results clear from the first time you hit the pump and start massaging it in. Containing 23 high-performing actives and full-spectrum, skin- beautifying antioxidants, nutrients, and vitamins, it’s definitely a cleanser that delivers on all fronts.

Take your hydration up a notch, and then some
After your soothing cleansing ritual, it’s time to embrace the chill in the air with a super hydrating moisturiser, balm and/or an oil. For super soothing properties and a delicate ritual to boot, I love the May Lindstrom range, which is the work of the LA-based beauty entrepreneur of the same name who has created a community of skin enthusiasts who love her hippy-meets-luxe approach and incredible creations. She shares her own skin rituals on a regular basis on her social media accounts and website, and each and every product in the range is designed to be experienced and enjoyed as well as delivering exceptional results. Her Blue Cocoon soothing balm has been a runway hit, and after using a jar up last winter I can see why. A stunningly blue balm that literally melts on contact with skin, it can be used as your primary moisturiser or as a special treatment for skin that is sensitive, inflamed, damaged, acneic or irritated. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory and soothes the skin in the most beautiful way, providing the perfect level of hydration and healing, eliminating redness and irritation.

At MV Skintherapy they take treating sensitive skin very seriously, which is why they use steam distilled Rose Otto as opposed to Absolute, ensuring there is no alcohol residue present that could irritate delicate types like me. Using their multi-award winning Rose Plus Booster has been a godsend when it comes to keeping my rosacea at bay, and the incredible-smelling formula is the most potent ‘oil concentrate’ in the range. Rose is used in a very high percentage to help strengthen the skin where it has been traumatised either accidentally (e.g. sun burn) or intentionally (peels, laser etc), and it is just delicious when layered over their Rose Hydrating Mist, which calms the skin as well as the mind and has been in high rotate in my house over the last year.

Add in a soothing essence
When the cold gets to my skin, I grab Dermalogica’s Redness Relief Essence, which is part of the brand’s super soothing UltraCalming line. It was expressly designed to soothe sensitive skin’s most painful and embarrassing symptoms, from redness and dehydration to discomfort, burning and compromised barrier. I love that it also lets you get to the bottom of skin sensitivity and guard against future flare-ups by restoring the skin’s own protective barrier, which is where a lot of the problems lie. It’s super lightweight like a toner so feels like nothing on the skin, but is concentrated like a serum and as powerful as one, too. The formula visibly reduces redness right away – and I’m not exaggerating - and strengthens the moisture barrier with regular use.

Ace your base
Winter is when you look for a more nourishing foundation as well as skincare, and I love Aleph Beauty's Concealer / Foundation for its skincare properties and general no-nonsense approach. Made in New Zealand using 100 per cent natural ingredients, Aleph products have been formulated to protect against environmental toxins, regenerate cellular energy and work to increase collagen production. Some of the star ingredients include a particular algae extract known for its collagen enhancing and rejuvenating properties, CoQ10 to help support the skin’s structure, and Totarol for its potent anti-bacterial properties. In a nutshell, it allows you to use your foundation to not only protect your skin and make it look its best immediately, but ensure that it looks better and better over time. Oh and for an added boost of skin-loving ingredients, apply a few drops of the brand’s Serum / Primer for a glow that just doesn’t stop.

Don’t neglect the neck down
Last up, don’t forget to up your game when it comes to nourishing body and mind by choosing a delicious body oil that will work on your mood too. This is where I opt for Lucy Vincent’s hair and body care range Sans (ceuticals, in particular the cult favourite Activator 7 Body Oil (I'm a freak for a great body oil, and they are surprisingly hard to find). The beautiful formulation hydrates and feels gently healing, as well as leaving not a trace of grease or residue on my skin post-shower. Ingredients include Vitamin A, Omega 3, 6, 9 and Vitamin E, which means that as well as being a welcome addition to your daily routine it also addresses sun damage, scars and stretch marks. Oh, and did I mention it smells good enough to eat, in a very unobtrusive way? Killer product, total must have.